An awning with special significance was recently installed at Up South, a women’s clothing boutique on Main Street, Gloucester.

Because of Virginia Department of Transportation right-of-way regulations, the awning could not be placed at first. But, following repeated efforts by the contractor and Gloucester County planning officials, VDOT has agreed to modify its stance on protrusions into its right-of-way along Main Street.

Jenny Crittenden, executive director of the Main Street Preservation Trust, said that 27 other buildings along Main Street, from the Route 17/14 traffic light to court circle, might ultimately benefit from the Gloucester ordinance change that now allows some awnings and similar structures to be erected on buildings.

Rodney Hockaday and Robin Sukhai own Bahama Breeze Shutter & Awning, LLC, a Gloucester company that installed the awning. They said that the old regulation prohibited protrusions greater than 12 inches from the building.

Now, the regulatio...